FREEPORT, ME, August 2006-Families who love the outdoors will want to head to Wayside Commons in Burlington, Massachusetts, on Friday, September 15, for the grand opening of L.L.Bean's newest store. The celebration kicks off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 AM followed by fun and activities all weekend long. In the spirit of the Flagship Store in Freeport, the Burlington store will be open 24 hours a day during the event. An exciting element of the new store will be the introduction of L.L.Bean's Outdoor Discovery Schools to the area beginning in the spring of 2007.

Throughout the weekend, expert instructors from L.L.Bean's Outdoor Discovery Schools will offer free fly-casting lessons, demonstrate techniques for kayak fishing and share tips for selecting a variety of outdoor gear from bikes and fly rods to kayaks and hiking accessories. Other activities include a Kids' Fly-Casting Challenge, Nordic-walking clinics and dog training demonstrations.

The 30,000 square foot store, located at the intersection of Route 128 (I-95) and Routes 3 and 3A, will employ approximately 125 people and will offer a selection of high-quality outdoor gear and apparel including hiking, fly fishing, kayaking and camping products. The store's design is environmentally friendly and will be the first of many "green" stores to open over the next several years. "L.L.Bean is a company that cherishes its relationship with the environment," said Ken Kacere, L.L.Bean's Senior Vice President and General Manager of Retail. "As our retail footprint grows, L.L. Bean will design, construct, and certify our stores to the LEED green building standards. We are pleased to announce that our new store at Wayside Commons in Burlington will be the first of many new L.L.Bean stores conforming to such standards."

The Burlington Store will be the company's first Retail Store located in Massachusetts, and the fifth to be opened outside of Maine. Other L.L.Bean Retail Stores are located in McLean, Virginia; Columbia, Maryland; Marlton, New Jersey; West Lebanon, New Hampshire and Freeport, Maine, the site of the company’s original Flagship Store, Hunting and Fishing Store and new Bike and Boat Store.

L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading retailer of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. While its business has grown substantially, L.L.Bean still upholds the values of its founder and continues his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. You can visit L.L.Bean anytime at www.llbean.com.

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For more information on any L.L.Bean news item or to arrange an interview with one of our in-house experts (on topics ranging from the outdoors to business), we invite the media to contact L.L.Bean Public Affairs at 207-552-6072.